Hi everyone,
Nearly 10 months ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion bans went into effect in more than a dozen states, denying 20 million people access to essential care.
Sadly, the crusade against reproductive freedom took another step last Friday.
A federal court judge in Texas – who was appointed by Donald Trump and has a history of making radical decisions to restrict freedom for women, the LGBTQ community and immigrants – blocked the FDA's approval of mifepristone.
Mifepristone is the gold standard in medication abortion care and has been used safely for decades. Never before has a court tried to turn back the clock on such a well-established, FDA-approved medication. This is an attempt to punish, shame, and marginalize women.
Now, the ruling is paused for seven days, but when it goes into effect, it could ban mifepristone nationwide, even in states like Massachusetts where abortion is legal.
This political intervention into basic medical care harms patients, undermines medical expertise, and takes away freedom. And we’re not going to stand for it.
I’m writing today to let you know that abortion will remain safe, legal and accessible here in Massachusetts. We are protecting access to Mifepristone. Here’s how:
1) At my request, the University of Massachusetts Amherst agreed to purchase enough doses of mifepristone to ensure sufficient coverage in the state of Massachusetts for more than a year.
2) I’ve signed an Executive Order that confirms that medication abortion, including mifepristone, remains protected under existing state law.
3) We’ve also been in touch with other health care providers who have agreed to purchase additional quantities to make available for patients.
4) Our administration is dedicating $1 million to support providers contracted with Department of Public Health with paying for these doses.
What I want the people of Massachusetts to take away from this action is a simple message. Medication abortion is safe, effective and legal. The action we are taking right now ensures it stays that way.
Because in Massachusetts, we stand for civil rights and freedom. Abortion access is freedom. Safe medical care is freedom. We are here today because we believe in freedom, and we believe in science.
The people of Massachusetts have my word that, as your Governor, we will always protect access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion.
We will not go backwards. We will remain a beacon of hope for anyone seeking care.
That’s the Massachusetts way.
-Maura Healey